Dog Community

How to give her the control...

Posted : 5/31/2006 9:40:44 PM

Dweezil is 7 months. She hadn't had an accident in the house for a few weeks until tonight. Until today, if I wasn't able to watch her constantly, she was gated in the bathroom. She doesn't even pee in there at all (she waited 7 hours today while i was at work!). Today I decided to give her a little bit more freedom ... i was going to let her roam the basement while i watch tv for a little bit at a time and I wasn't going to watch her. She did try to go up the stairs (where the door is that I let her out of) once, and i asked her to come back downstairs and she did, then i gated the steps. She had peed 2 hours prior, and waits a lot longer than that before going, so I assumed she would be okay. Sometimes, she will scratch on the gate to let me know she needs to go upstairs. I stood up to walk to the bathroom ... and found a pee stain the carpet, still warm ...

I just don't understand how I'm supposed to know when she's really telling me she needs to go. That time I really didn't get too much warning. But I dont want to keep taking all the control of when she goes ... I take her out every few hours ... but she doesn't really tell me when she needs to, so I guess at this point it's just my making sure I take her out enough times. Which of course I'm sure is a good thing, but if I'm not standing up to take her out anymore (which is what I would like to happen eventually, because I know she won't need to go every two hours for the rest of her life) ... I want her to let me know when she needs to go. Suggestions?

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/31/2006 11:05:30 PM

If she isn't totally reliable in the house, don't give her so much freedom. You can try keeping her with you, either tethered or supervised. Look for signs like circling, sniffing, etc. Some dogs don't give much warning. And, some dogs take a long time before they "tell" you. If you use the same word all the time as you take her out ("Outside?") you may be able to ask her and she might get excited - take her and reward her if she pees outdoors.

Firestorm

Posted : 6/2/2006 1:27:05 PM

I agree with spiritdogs. If you want to give her some freedom then do it right after she goes potty outside not 2 hours. Dogs can be tricky and they need to earn there freedom.

tashakota

Posted : 6/2/2006 2:30:09 PM

Plus if she has more room to move around and play, that can stimulate the bladder to need to go. Think of how you feel if you were moving around the house versus driving in a car. Sitting down, you can hold it longer...

bichinpanda

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:07:44 PM

Okay well the entire thing was that I do let her roam around right after she goes, but before I was putting her back into the bathroom gated when it got a little tricky deciding if she needed to go. I understand the whole don't let her out unless I'm sure she won't but how am I supposed to know when she's capable of holding it and letting me know anyway, I can't play the guessing game of "every two hours on the dot" for the rest of her life, can I. And if I don't give her any freedom, how is she supposed to learn that she gets to let me know.

Started on the bell yesterday, but again -- if she's not out to ring it, how is that going to work anyway.